For a week in July, 13 UCR School of Business students flew across the globe for immersive, on-the-ground exposure to the business of China.

The group was hosted by Shanghai Ocean University, located in the Lin-gang Special Area, a massive free trade zone development project that is part of China’s competitive growth strategy, says Sean Jasso, professor of practice, who has led the UCR School of Business’s educational domestic and international travel program for 14 years.

“Our hosts at Shanghai Ocean University delivered a comprehensive, well-structured, rigorous, and sophisticated program complete with academic lectures on China’s influential culture, the Chinese political economy, and oceanic sustainability.”

Understanding China’s considerable global influence economically and politically is an integral part of a business education in the United States. The students’ eight-day itinerary included a trip to Shanghai’s central business district with a briefing at the American Chamber of Commerce; a tour of the Lin-gang special trade zone, which is home to the Tesla Gigafactory; and an evening cruise on the Huangpu River—“to see Shanghai’s incredible skyline,” says Jasso.

The students also experienced cultural traditions, including a Chinese formal tea, ancient costumes, kung fu, and dragon boat racing. The first site of the National Congress and Mao Zedong’s home were among the historical visits, and UCR students were treated to a surprise trip to Disneyland Shanghai.

“A global mindset enables students to broaden their perspectives on everything,” says Jasso, and firsthand, on-the-ground exposure in a very different business landscape is tough to beat when it comes to expanding students’ academic résumés. “The objective is for our students to gain confidence and strengthen their overall competitive value in the labor market.”

"I will be forever grateful to have immersed myself in the rich and storied history of China,” says Jasmine Ma ’26 business administration. “The intensive in Shanghai inspired me to continue pursuing opportunities abroad and making genuine connections through meaningful interactions with others and gaining global perspectives."

The educational excursion in China is among several that UCR business students may embark on internationally and domestically, including visits to Oxford, England; Middle East; and Washington, D.C., which occurred in the last two years. These global programs are offered in partnership with the UCR International Affairs office.

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Header image: The China Program 2024 - Opening Ceremony at Shanghai Ocean University